Believe that You can Do Anything and You Will!

"Imagine yourself to be the type of

person you want to be, and then be

it.  You may have to let go of some

bad habits and develop some more

positive ones, but don't give up --

for it is only in trying and persisting

that dreams come true."

                                                                     --Barbara Cage

It  is believed that  an estimated 71 percent of the prisoners released  return to prison for the same/similar type of crime, organically incarcerated.  This suggest that while incarcerated, the person didn't receive the necessary empowerment "tools" for  productive reentry.

After reading thousands of letters, speaking with many incarcerated persons throughout, we learned that prisoner  have the desire to  succeed upon release; however, the opportunities for "earned" second chance is few to none.  Many times due to state, federal laws prohibiting prisoners from housing, employment, and services.  Since the abolition of parole in 1995, that gave stiffer and longer prison sentence; this lead to extensive reduction in funding prisoner literacy, therapeutic and vocational programs in Virginia prisons.  The mentality became "why educate, rehabilitate" if they are serving longer sentences; let's wait until they get closer to their release date to begin providing the necessary/needed services; and even then they would be minimum at best. 

RIHD believes in prisoner literacy, therapeutic and vocational rehabilitation for all persons entering jail and prison day one!  Why wait to provide persons who are most in need of these "tools" to empower change for the positive.  The length of sentence should not be a factor; for rehabilitation isn't just because a person will be release or not, but to change the prisoner's perspective on life both while incarcerated and not!  Are we not a Country, a State that believes in second chances?  If those incarcerated who has stated to us, ask for assistance, the "tools" necessary to "earn" that second chance, the public trust and be successful in our communities, why are they not receiving it!

It's equally important that incarcerated persons understand that it's not the JUST our local, state and federal government or the public responsibility to provide all the necessary services to incarcerated person; that the prisoner, him/herself and their families must be equally  proactive in the task.  At RIHD we call this "Self Help"  In 2002, RIHD began offering the listed below self help initiatives towards reducing crime and reducing recidivism. 

R.I.H.D. PRISONER "SELF HELP" INITIATIVES 

1. "Sponsor an Prisoner Rehabilitation through Education"  (S.I.P.E) Fundraising 
(Free Dictionaries, GED prep Books, College Text Book Assistance)

2.  "Investing In Your Future" Self Help Guide

   (Re-entry Planning - Business - Investment)

3.  Transportation Service to Faraway Virginia Prisons

    (Keen Mountain, Pocahontas, Red Onion, Wallens Ridge)

4.  "Va Prisoner Artistic Works"  Annual Fundraiser

5.  "Fair and Smart" Prison Reform Advocacy

 (Youth, Prisoners, Reentry, Victims & Family)

6.  Restoration of Former Felon Rights Campaign

   (Voting Rights Restoration application assistance

     & advocacy for legislative/executive order)

For initiative brochure (s) & additional information  send a self-addressed stamped envelope to: 

RIHD - PO Box 55 - Highland Springs - Virginia 23075  

Prisoners & Families Support Advocacy Meeting

Monthly - Every 3rd Tuesday

Time: 7pm to 9pm

Location: 

Fellowship Hall

Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church

1720 Mechanicsville Turnpike

Richmond, Virginia 23223

(I-64 Mechanicsville Turnpike Wesr Exit)

 All are invited - All are welcome - Bring a friend

Light refreshment served

  (804) 562-2123

Virginia State Employee Directory by Name & Agency

http://www.employeedirectory.virginia.gov/Default.aspx 

 Emergency Assistance ReEntry for Inmates.rtf

Administrative letter for Inmate

 Administrative Letter for Inmates.rtf

 "Calls From Home" by Thousand Kites.org 

 Radio Call In Radio Show   

formerly Holla to the Hood

 Do you have or know someone with an incarcerated loved one, family member, friend

housed in the below Virginia prisons or surrounding local jails & federal facilities?

Keen Mountain, Pocahontas, Red Onion, Wallens Ridge

  Or  ar you just a concerned citizen in support of prisoner "earned" second chance advocacy?

Want to send them a live radio shout out, words of encouragement, wisdom, spiritual, poetry, or just to say "hello" or that you care?

Toll Free Call Every Monday Night from 7pm to 9pm 

1-888-396-1208

You can pre-record your message 24/7 by calling toll free

1-877-410-4863

    Online listening from 7pm to 10pm:  http://appalshop.org/wmmt/